Ultrastructural study of canine aortic damage caused by disturbance of transmural transport.

Lymph congestion was produced experimentally in canine aorta. It was demonstrated that the disturbance of lymph circulation resulted in morphological changes mostly in the outer third of the aortic media and in the adventitia. The smooth muscle cells of these areas showed mitochondrial or cytoplasmic edema and in the interstitium, ghost body formation could be seen, as well. The role of lymphatic circulation in the transmural transport of the aorta is stressed. The blocking of lymph drainage interferes with normal transmural transport and results in damages that contribute to the initiation of atherosclerotic lesions.